How to Study Vocabulary for the SAT (+ Sample Questions)

Improving vocabulary for the SAT is a common concern for students. And there is no shortage of opinions on how to do that: from SAT vocabulary lists with hundreds - if not thousands - of words, to mountains of flash cards, to prefix and suffix memorization, everyone on the internet says they have it cracked. We think it’s a lot simpler than all of that (and we’ve got Katya to back us up!). Here’s how Katya Seberson and the tutors at Ivy Tutors Network work with students looking to build vocabulary for the SAT and improve their scores on the Reading and Writing modules.

How to Study Vocabulary for the (Digital) SAT

Let’s start with the TL;DR version: skip the rote memorization and the flashcards and focus instead on vocabulary in context through reading and targeted practice.

If you feel like “that’s great…but what does that mean?”, let’s break it down into practical strategies.

1. Treat vocabulary as core to SAT Reading and Writing. Many students (and parents) are under the misconception that the vocabulary section is just a small portion of the SAT. They’re so focused on the questions that ask you to choose the right vocabulary word to complete the sentence, they forget that every question on the exam will use advanced vocabulary. Meaning even the “non-vocabulary” questions require you to understand complex word choice in order to correctly answer them.
2. Use context strategies like SALE to decode words and ideas inside passages. College Board - the maker of the SAT - rewards you for knowing the meaning of vocabulary words, but also for being able to derive meaning from contextual clues. SALE is an acronym we devised to standardize specific types of vocabulary in context questions on the SAT. Because the SAT is standardized, it must follow a specific structure with clues. College Board must give you at least one uncontestable clue per question, be it a Synonym, an Antonym, a Logical Clue, or an Example. Many vocabulary questions will ask you to find a synonym or antonym of a word that exists before or after the space you need to fill in. Others will provide logical clues or examples that point you to the right word. They won’t tell you that directly, of course, but by learning the context clues to look out for, you’ll more quickly find the right answer.
   
   We walk through an example of each type of question further in the blog. We also cover SALE extensively in our SAT Boost and Verbal Crash courses.
3. Build flexibility with multiple meanings. A common trip up for many students is words that can mean multiple things. A good example is the verb “to clear”, which can mean “to move past” and “to lighten or remove”. For instance, “We cleared the ramparts just as the storm began. It was not until later in the day that the sky cleared.” In the first sentence, “cleared” means to have walked past. In the second sentence, it means the storm clouds disappeared. A student who does not have flexibility with vocabulary words would struggle to understand the meaning of the first sentence.
4. Be cautious with “root first” approaches. Latin root words are great…if you speak a Latin based language. English, unfortunately, though it does borrow extensively from French, is not a Latin-based language. Meaning knowing the etymology of words is helpful until it isn’t. There are a plethora of exceptions when knowing the root of the word will actually mislead you in understanding its English meaning. While there are exceptions to every rule, we don’t see most students succeed with this methodology.

How to Build or Improve Vocabulary for SAT

The best way to build and improve your vocabulary for the SAT - or anything else - is to read. We know a few of you just cried inside a little, but there’s no way around it. It’s why we tell every high school student we know - whether they’re currently studying for the SAT or not - to read 25 pages everyday. Due to the advanced nature of SAT vocabulary, we often encourage equally advanced periodicals based on what interests you or your student. The Economist, The Atlantic, Nature, Scientific America, and The New Yorker are all good choices. But the point is that you read. Everyday.

More of a TV person? We’ve got a solution for you, too: subtitles. Yes, really. But there are two rules. One, you can’t have the sound on. Just the subtitles for all of the dialogue. Two, you must pause when you come across a word you don’t know and write it down. Start a list of vocabulary words and decide if you’ll look it up - and write down the definition - each time an unknown word comes up, or at the end of the episode. Challenge yourself to use each word correctly in a sentence. Wait a few days and review the words again (so if you wrote them down on Monday, come back to them on Thursday before you start a new episode).

You can technically use the subtitles strategy with any show, but our favorite two to recommend are The West Wing and Downtown Abbey. Both shows use more advanced vocabulary than the average and thus give you a good chance of teaching you relevant vocabulary for the SAT. Already watched both? Get a BritBox subscription and choose a show. While we love a good American sitcom, UK television tends to use a wider range of vocabulary than US shows, making them a solid pick for this purpose.

Don’t I need an SAT Vocabulary list?

Not like you’re thinking. A vocabulary list or book of vocabulary words that you memorize is not a very effective strategy for building SAT vocabulary. But like we mentioned above, creating a list of words you don’t know when reading or watching tv with subtitles can be a good strategy. Rather than memorizing the dictionary definition of the word, however, we recommend you learn a synonym for the word and practice using it in a sentence. Vocabulary is tested in context on the SAT. That means you need to be able to know when a word is the appropriate completion of a sentence or not, or if how it’s used changes what it means. You don’t need to be able to write down Merriam and Webster’s word for word definition.

Here’s an example. Trite is considered an “SAT vocabulary word”. How does the dictionary define trite? “Hackneyed or boring from much use : not fresh or original.” What’s another way to say that? Cliché. And that’s way easier to remember. Plus it gives you the opportunity to check your work, so to speak. If you think the right word to complete the sentence is trite, fill in cliché and see if it makes sense. If so, you know you made the right selection.

SAT Vocabulary Questions + Words

Now that we’ve given you all our tips, let’s get down to some examples. But first: we know that despite telling you you don’t need a list of SAT vocabulary words, many of you would still like a list. While we don’t have a massive PDF for you to download (because, again, we don’t think this is the best strategy), Katya does regularly post reels on Instagram and TikTok with top vocabulary words and anticipated words for upcoming tests. If it will soothe your nerves, take the time to learn them using the strategies we outlined above. Here’s one to get you started.

Sample SAT Vocabulary Questions

Use this video to walk through four questions that fall into the SALE acronym from earlier. We’ve also posted the typed out versions below. You’ll have to watch the video to get the answers, though!

Example 1 (Synonym)

In ___________ of the growing uncertainties caused by abrupt changes in global weather patterns, renowned ecologist Christine Johnson has turned her advocacy toward regenerative agriculture. This acknowledgement has led to her intensive research into the method, emphasizing its profound influence on global food security and the pressing need for sustainable farming practices worldwide.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. Negligence
2. Disapproval
3. Affirmation
4. Recognition

Example 2 (Antonym)

Although some observations of colony collapse disorder, a mysterious disappearance of hives despite the presence of honeybees, have been reported for some time, its exact cause remains a matter of debate. One of the prominent theories for this _____________ phenomenon has been placed on pesticides, but a direct causal relationship has yet to be established.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. Unexplained
2. Synchronized
3. Premeditated
4. Accelerated

Example 3 (Logic)

Since most governments do not place a monetary value on works of art, they are rarely considered a valid means of paying taxes. In France, however, valuable artworks are accepted _________ monetary payment for inheritance taxes. For instance, the French government recently received nine of Picasso’s artworks from his daughter, Maya Ruiz-Picasso, in settlement of an inheritance tax bill.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. In conjunction with
2. In lieu of
3. By way of
4. With reference to

Example 4 (Example)

The assertion of a connection between mobile phone use and the development of brain tumors appears ___________ given that it neglects a wealth of research demonstrating no substantial correlation between these two variables. The claim’s lack of credibility is particularly evident when considering contradictory evidence, such as the 2011 Danish Cohort Study, which found no increased risk of brain tumors among mobile phone users.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. Trite
2. Defensible
3. Unambiguous
4. Spurious

How to Improve Vocabulary for SAT

If improving your vocabulary for the SAT is your goal, you need to implement two tactics: daily reading and targeted practice. Like many things, the best solution is a simple one, but it takes commitment (and that’s the hard part). If you’re looking for support with your SAT score goals, consider working with one of our SAT tutors or enrolling in one of our SAT courses for personalized support and accountability.